Closure



Dec. 4, 1934. M A, PlXLEY 1,983,098

CLOSURE Filed Nov. 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN TOR. /V///'on /4. P/k /gz BY M v M ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 4, 1934.

M. A. PIX LEY CLOSURE Filed NOV. 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. /V//20/7 ,4. PAY/ M BY M 1 W ATTORNEYS.

x Hard"? 1 1 I Patented Dec. 4, 1934 nssaoas 7 Milton A; Pixley, commons: Ohio Apmiafias sat-ante; a, 1531; Serial to. 5715,2131" 8' claims. (arise- 56) Myvinvention relates to closures. It has to do particularly: with flexible curtain closures or similar structures such as coiling doors, overl 'iead doors? and other flexible devices used for closingant-opening; 1

One of the objects of n my invention 'is to provide a simple and effective means for incorporating panelsof transparent or opaque materialwinsclosures' ofwthe type indicated.

10 "Another: object of my invention is to provide panel structures which may be embodied in" closures of thistype in such a way that they will beaentirely. water-proof. i a i Another object'of this invention is to provide awmeansfor incorporating-transparent or opaque panels'in closures' of the kind indicated in such" a1 way as to adequately protect them from shocks and jars? to which these closures are r likely. to

beisubjecteda a its preferred embodiment, my*invention contemplates the provisionof a sectional closure structure wherein one or more of the sections takes the form of a built-up section embodying awtransparent oropaque panel and a frame- 'work, form saidpanel which is separable into parts" and which "is of such# a "nature that the transparentmr' opaque panel area may be of any desired widthmr' length. 1 i

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawingswherein similar characters* of reference designate corresponding parts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a flexible curtain do'or structure built in' accordance with -my invention.

I Figure zxisla perspectiveyiew;ofa portion of the door structure shownin Figure '1.

Figure :3'is a vertical-transverse section taken through one of" my novel=built-up sections and 40 showing how a single built-up section is inserted in thedoor structure.

Figure 4 15 a" section "taken on i line d -Wof Figure-ea Figurewasperspectivefvlewimustrawmg?parts-1' is"desighedto seatthe lower edge of the trans 1013 overhead type door.

aenff'di io Fi8111'8 7' and-illustrating the manner of 0011- necti'o'n of" my built-up section to another seetion of the dbor. 1 a Figure 9"is a section taken on line 99 of Figure 8. i l i a i In the drawings, with particular reference tdFigu'res I to5,":I"have'shown a rolling door 1 which is provide'ol'with a plurality of sections 2 whichare -bui1t in accordance with my in'ven-- tion: As shown, these sections 2 extend-the full WidtliOf the door" and are each of thesame height" as th'e' otherse'ctions-o'f the door to' which they 1 are" connected;" Instructure, eachbf my novel sections comprisesa transverse upper portion and a"tra'nsverse lower portion-and these two" portions are held? in proper relation to eachother by 'means of a clamp" which also serves to hold a trans-'- parentor opaque panel in position-between the two transverse portions? Obviously, these por-- tions may vary' as 'to length and the number of clamps and panels which I use for any. given door section made"'inaccordance' with my invention may, likewise, vary. J

The upper and lower transverse portions soft my novel sectionarei preferably (of, an integral. 8t

1a which s; designed to interlock with" a 'g'd tu'r hook-snapednan 1 1 Iupofi'an" adjacent sect at? rliauneer edgeofjthe vertical:

transparent" "or? opaque panel while the L-shaped ferredjconditionav.the ilangefl is on .Lthe; outer.

'io it ie po and e flaneam is on theinnen sidetherecf. Thus," the flange 7 will shed any 1T0 moisture, such as rain-water, while the flange 13 is so disposed that it will not collect moisture.

The section is preferably completed at the ends of the upper and lower transverse portions by means of a clamp which is illustrated in disassembled condition in Figure 5. This clamp comprises a member 14 having its upper end curved as at 15 so that it will lie in intimate contact with and partially embrace the hookshaped flange 4 of the upper transverse portion of the section. The lower end of the clamp member 14 is preferably bent outwardly as at 16 and its lower extremity is then bent to form an L-shaped flange 17 which lies in. intimate contact with the L-shaped flange 13 of the lower transverse portion of the section. This contact is such that the leg 18 of the L-shaped flange 1'7 extends beneath the horizontal leg of the L- shaped flange 13. The clamp member 14 is further provided with a longitudinally extending rib 19 that may bepressed up from the center thereof and that is preferably of a greater depth than the transparent or opaque panel which is to be mounted in the section.

Complemental to the member 14 is a clamp member 20 which has its upper end outwardly bent as at 21 and then bent to form an L-shaped flange 22 having a horizontal-leg 23. This L- shaped flange 22 is designed to lie. in intimate contact with the flange 7 of the upper transverse portion and with its horizontal leg 23 superimposed upon the horizontal leg of the L- shaped flange 7. The lower end of the clamp member 20 is preferably curved as at 24 and this curved portion 24 is adapted to lie in intimate contact with the exterior of the hookshaped flange 9 of the lower transverse portion of my section. The clamp member 20 is further provided with a longitudinal socket 25 which receives and embraces the longitudinally extending rib 19 of the clamp member 14, being held thereto by the bolts 26 and nuts 27.

By reference to Figures 4 and 5, it will be noted that the sections are provided with cushioning means 28 at the ends of the transparent or opaque panels 8. This cushioning means may bi of felt, rubber or any other suitable material and is preferably disposed in between the ends of the panel 8 and the sides of the rib 19 of the clamping members 14. It will serve to absorb any shocks to which the panels may be subjected and will permit adequate expansion or contraction.

In the modified form of my invention, shown in Figures 6 to 9, an upper transverse portion 29 is curled as at 30 so that it may make an interlocking hinge connection with an adjacent section. This upper transverse portion is provided upon its opposite edge with a vertical wall 31 whose lower edge is bent to form a downturned L-shaped flange 32. This down-turned L-shaped flange 32 forms a seat for the upper horizontal edge of a transparent or opaque panel 33.

A lower transverse portion of the section is also provided and is'designated 34. It is curled at one edge as at 35 so that it may readily make an interlocking hinge connection with an adjacent section. This lower transverse portion 34 is provided with a downwardly inclined portion 36 whose lower edge is integrally connected to a vertical wall 37. The upper edge thereof is provided with an L-shaped flange 38 which forms a seat for the lower horizontal edge of the panel 33.

The transverse portions just described are held in proper relation to each other and the transparent or opaque panel is retained therein by means of one or more clamps which extend vertically from the section. Each clamp comprises three members With means for securing them in cooperative relation.

One of these clamp members is'designated 39 and is preferably of channel formation. It is substantially straight throughout with the exception of its lower end. This lower end is turned to form an L-shaped flange 40 with its horizontal leg fitting beneath the L-shaped flange 38 of the lower transverse portion. Another member comprises a flat strip of metal designated 41 and provided at its upper end with a horizontal flange 42 that fits over the Lshaped flange 32 of the upper horizontal portion of the section. These clamp members 39 and 41 are preferably spaced apart by means of a block of wood of other suitable material 43 which likewise flts in between the ends of the transparent or opaque panel in such a manner as to cushion anyshocks or permit adequate expansion or contraction. The three clamp members are preferably held together in cooperative relation to each other and to the transverse portions and the panels by means of bolts 44 and nuts 45.

It will be seen from this description that I have provided a novel type of section for doors or other closures of the type indicated and that certain material advantages arise from the structure of this section. For one thing, it is possible to build these sections of any length or width and to assemble them with a minimum of difliculty. Furthermore, they are entirely moisture proof, inasmuch as they are especially built and arranged to shed any moisture contracting therewith. The panels, used may be either transparent or opaque and cushioning means has been provided to absorb all shocks and permit adequate expansion or contraction.

It will likewise be apparent that my section is of such a structure that it may be readily substituted for any section of a sectional door or other closure and may be removed and replaced with equal readiness.

Other advantages will appear from the ap- I pended claims and from the description as a Whole.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A flexible closure member adjustable between a position in covering relation to an opening and a position where the opening is substantially exposed, said flexible closure member comprising a plurality of cooperating, interlockj ing sections and including a built-up section, saidbuilt-up section comprising a frame formed of a plurality of separable parts and embodying a plurality of members extending across the entire width of the closure, said members having edges of hook formation adapted to interlock with cooperating portions on the edges of adjacent sections, and means for connecting said members together.

2. A flexible closure member adjustable between a position in covering relation to an opening and a position where the opening is substantially exposed, said flexible closure member comprising a plurality of cooperating, interlocking sections and including a built-up section,

said built-up section comprising main frame members extending across the entire width of said closure, each frame member having an edge of hook formation and an angularly bent portion, said hooked edge being adapted to interlock with a cooperating edge on an adjacent section, and means for connecting said frame members together, said means comprising clamp members each having a hooked end and an angularly bent end for cooperating with the correspondingly shaped portions of said frame members.

3. A flexible closure member adjustable between a position in covering relation to an opening and a position Where the opening is substantially exposed, said flexible closure member comprising a plurality of cooperating, interlocking sections and including a built-up section, said built-up section comprising a pair of main frame members each having a hooked edge, said hooked edge being adapted to engage with a hooked edge of an adjoining section of said closure device, each of said frame members also having an angularly bent portion, means for mounting panels on said frame members, said means comprising a plurality of clamp members, each of said clamp members having a hooked portion adapted toflt the hooked edge of one of said frame members and an angularly bent portion adapted to fit the angularly bent portion of the other main frame member, and means for fastening said pair of clamp members together.

4. A flexible closure member adjustable between a position in covering relation to an opening and a position where the opening is substantially exposed, said flexible closure member comprising a plurality of cooperating sections hingedly connected together and including a built up section, said built-up section comprising a pair of main frame members, a plurality of panels, clamp members for binding said frame members and said panels together, and a cushion element interposed between the ends of said panels and said clamp members and between the edges of said clamp members and said frame members.

5. A flexible closure member adjustable between a position in covering relation to an opening and a position where the opening is substantially exposed, said flexible closure member comprising a plurality of interlocking sections and including a built-up section, said built-up section comprising a frame formed of a plurality of separable parts and embodying a plurality of frame members, said members having edges of hook formation adapted to interlock with cooperating portions on the edges of adjacent sections, and means for securing said frame members together.

6. A flexible closure member for an opening adjustable between closed and open positions, said flexible closure member comprising a plurality of sections, hingedly connected together and including a built-up section, said bulit-up section comprising a frame formed of a plurality of separable parts and embodying a pair of main frame members each of which extends transversely of the closuremember, each of said main frame members being hingedly connected to the adjacent section of said closure member, said main frame members being spaced apart so that a panel member which extends transversely of the closure member may be disposed therebetween, and a plurality of spaced bracket members extending transversely of said main frame members for joining said main frame members together and for securing said panel in position.

'7. A built-up section adapted ,to be incorporated in a closure consisting of a plurality of interlocking sections, said built-up section comprising a frame formed of a plurality of separable parts and embodying a pair of members extending across the entire width of the closure, said members having edges of hook formation adapted to interlock with cooperating portions on the edges of adjacent sections of a closure of the type indicated, a plurality of panels, and means for connecting said members and said panels together to form the complete built-up section.

8. A flexible closure member for an opening vertically adjustable between closed and open positions, said flexible closure member comprising a plurality of interlocking sections and including a built-up section, said built-up section comprising a frame member composed of separable parts and embodying a pair of main members extending transversely of the closure member, each of said main members having an edge of hook formation, the hook formation on the upper main member being adapted to interlock with a cooperating portion on the lower edge of the adjacent section thereabove and the hook formation on the lower main member being adapted to interlock with a cooperating portion on the upper edge of the adjacent section therebelow, the hook formations of said members being reversed relative to each other, a plurality of panels, the upper main member being adapted to embrace the upper edge of said panel and having a flange extending down over one of the side surfaces thereof and the lower main member being adapted to embrace the lower edge of said panel and having an upwardly turned flange adapted to extend over the other side surface of said panel and cooperating clamp members adapted to secure said panel and said main members together.

MILTON A. PIXLEY. 

